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Latendresse out indefinitely with concussion

Guillaume Latendresse

FILE - This Sept. 27, 2011 file photo shows Minnesota Wild wing Guillaume Latendresse getting ready between shifts during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues, in St. Paul, Minn. Getting Latendresse, Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Josh Harding back healthy this season ought to be a big boost for the Wild and their depth. (AP Photo/Andy King, File)

AP

The Minnesota Wild announced today that Guillaume Latendresse will be out of the lineup indefinitely while recovering from a concussion. Unfortunately, Latendresse is unsure when he suffered the concussion. He took a big hit from Douglas Murray in the game against the Sharks last night—but Star Tribune writer Mike Russo notes that Latendresse was went face first into the glass earlier this week after a hit by Calgary’s Mark Giordano. Whether he suffered the concussion against the Sharks or the Flames, he’s going to be on the shelf while he tries to recover.

Minnesota Wild coach Mike Yeo acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the entire situation when he talked to Russo this afternoon. “You hear that word [concussion], you don’t expect to have them back in a day or two anymore, that’s for sure,” the Wild head coach said. Proper protocol would say that Latendresse will be out a minimum of a week while Minnesota’s training staff monitors his baseline numbers.

Every hockey fan understands that a concussion can mean a long-term injury these days. There’s no way of telling if the clouds in Latendresse’s head will clear in three days, three weeks, or three months. Or worse. Yeo understands that all the team (and player) can do is rest and hope for the best.

On the ice, the timing couldn’t come at a worse time for the Wild. They’re the second worst scoring team in the league and they just lost their streaking top-line winger. Latendresse has improved his two-way play this season and is predictably among the team’s leader in goals and points.

What’s this team for the team in the short term? Cal Clutterbuck is slated to play on the top line on Saturday night in Los Angeles. Yeah, get well soon Guillaume.